Where is Oregon’s ‘Lost Lake’ Going?

During winter, a mysterious hole begins draining the Lost Lake in Oregon of all its water, leaving a barren landscape that has baffled scientists for centuries
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A hole that, according to Jude McHugh a spokeswoman with the Willamette National Forest, has been there as long as anyone can remember, during the winter opened up under Oregon’s Lost Lake and the lake started running down the hole.

Apparently, the area’s volcanic landscape is to blame for the lake’s rapid drainage. Geologists believe a lava tube beneath the lake formed when flowing lava hardened near the surface and flowed downwards. As the eruption cooled, the hardened pips emptied, leaving behind tubes in the form of vast tunnels.

Geologists claim the area’s volcanic landscape is to blame for the lake’s rapid drainage. They believe a lava tube beneath the lake formed when flowing lava hardened near the surface and flowed downwards.As the eruption cooled, the hardened pipes emptied, leaving behind tubes in the form of vast tunnels. Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Other lakes in the area have similar lava tube drain holes, Fish Lake, for example, which is only a few miles from Lost Lake, according to The Bulletin.

Researchers are mostly bewildered as to where the water is going. McHugh claims it may seep into the porous subsurface underground, refilling the aquifer that feeds springs on the Cascades, although that has not been confirmed.

According to the sourcelink, local people have found some unusual things in the lake, car parts, engines and such. McHugh believes these are attempts to try to ‘plug the leak’, but warns this may simply lead to flooding of the local area.

‘If anyone was ever successful at plugging it, which we’re not sure they could do, it would just result in the lake flooding, and the road. It’s an important part of how the road was designed,’ she said.

Scientists say a lava tunnel, such as the one pictured, is responsible for draining the lake, but where this water goes is still a mystery Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Lost Lake is a lake in Mount Hood National Forestnorthwest of Mount Hood in Hood River County, Orgeon Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Tim Black is a software developer, author, day trader and real estate investor. He’s been known to do some rock climbing, backpacking, off-roading, shooting and keyboard playing. He spends much of his time in the Dallas TX area.

In addition to NoozSaurus, Tim writes the occasional guest blog at Technorati.com and WinnersEdgeTrading.com.

I have a wonderful wife and BFF of 38 years, two awesome kids, one awesome foster kid, two awesome sons-in-law and several dozen kids that call me Daddo. 🙂 Yes, God has richly blessed me.

If you want to know more about me, message me and we’ll do coffee. I like coffee. 🙂

About the Author

Tim Black is a software developer, author, day trader and real estate investor. He's been known to do some rock climbing, backpacking, off-roading, shooting and keyboard playing. He spends much of his time in the Dallas TX area.
In addition to NoozSaurus, Tim writes the occasional guest blog at Technorati.com and WinnersEdgeTrading.com.
I have a wonderful wife and BFF of 38 years, two awesome kids, one awesome foster kid, two awesome sons-in-law and several dozen kids that call me Daddo. :) Yes, God has richly blessed me.
If you want to know more about me, message me and we’ll do coffee. I like coffee. :)